The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-12-03
NAMES LESSON.
How Her Wrong-Doing Brought Its Own
Punishment.

I'm, GEAR!
Mamie uttered an exclamation of dis
may as she stood on the lower step of
the broad stairway and looked up at the
tall d-fashioned clock which was tick
ing solemnly away on the landing, just
as it had licked every day of Mamie's
short life Ten minutes of nine, and in
Just ten minutes more the clock would
strike, and mamma would call; alt is
time for your half-hour's practice,
Mamie"
And she did so want to finish the
new dress she was making for Arabe,la.
Of course, it could be finished after
ward, but she wanted to complete it
now, and put it on so that her waxen
ladyship would be all ready for her to
take out for Il walk. If only that per-
sistent old clock would stop for few
minutes! but no, it licked steadily on,
and while Mamie stood on the stairs it
gained minute, so now she had only
nine minutes left. Grandpa had just
been winding the clock, and with care
lessness that was very unusual, he had
forgotten to lock the door of the tall
case. Mamie's quick eyes spied that
twas ajar, and perhaps it was this that
made u sudden temptation flash into
her mind.
Why not push the hand backward,
and gain time to finish Arabella's
dress? 1t would not really be much
harm; for she would have to practice
her half-hour just the same, argued
the tempter; and though Mamie knew
better than to believe that it was no
harm to deceive, she was only too will
ing to yield.
She ran to the hat-rack and got
grandpa's umbrella, and, going up
stairs, listened, fearful, for moment,
lest some one should come along the
hall and see what she was doing; then,
opening the door of the clock, she
reached up, and with tho handle of
the umbrella pushed the large hand
of the clock back twenty minutes.
With a beating heart she hastily
closed the door and returned the UNI
brella to its place. Then she went back
to her dolls dress.
Somehow all the pleasure had van
ished from her task; and when she
found she had sewed the sleeves in
wrong side up, she put away her little
work-boX without trying to repair the
mistake.
The stolen twenty minutes seemed
the longest that Mamie had ever
known, and it was a relief to her when
at last the nine strokes sounded. She
went to the piano without being re-
minded, and practiced scales and exer-
cises with unusual care, trying by ex-
ceptional diligence to make up for her
wrong-doing.
Before the half-hour had elapsed,
mamma came in with smile of APP
prevail.
you have practiced very faithfully
this morning, Mamie, and now | have
a pleasant surprise for you. Uncle
Herbert sent me word that he will be
on the train that stops at the station
here at quarter past nine, and he wants
to take you home t. spend the day
with Aunt Bessy; then he will put you
on the evening train, and papa will
meet you. Won't that be nice? Now
you have plenty of time to get dressed
and walk quietly over to the station
before train-time, and 1 will excuse
you from practicing the other ten min
utes."
All Mamie's troublesome thoughts
vanished at the prospect of this uneX-
pected pleasure, and her face was as
bright as q June morning while she
prepared for the little trip. Suddenly
the shrill whistle of the approaching
train made her look up in dismay.
"Oh, [ shall be late!' she cried.
mamma, isn't that the train whisting
now?'
"lt sounds like it, but it must be a
'special;' for it is twenty minutes yet
before the train is due. | Just looked
at the clock" answered mamma.
Twenty minutes! Mamie suddenly
remembered how she had stolen that
twenty minutes by pushing back the
hand of the clock, and as she realized
that she had indeed missed the train
and her anticipated pleasure, she
threw herself on the floor in Il passion
of tears.
Her wrong-doing had brought its
own punishment, and it had been a
hard one; for Mamie counted Il visit to
Aunt Bessy among her greatest pleas
ures.
With her tear-stained face hidden on
mammals shoulder, she confessed the
truth; and no word of reproof was
needed to add TO her sorrow.
The little girl had learned the lesson
that every one has to learn sooner OF
later-that sin brings its own punish
sment, though it may not always come
as swiftly us it did to Mamie that
bright summer morning.-Minnie E.
Kenney, IN S. S. Times.
~-
A Clean Mouth.
Little children do Won know that